Pence differential mechanism



July 31, 1956 E, PL ET AL FENCE DIFFERENTIAL MECHANISM FIG. I

@@@ @QQQ @@@@@@@@@Q @C INVENTORS EVERETT H. PLACKE 8 JAMES L. HAGEMEYER %%M* THEIR ATTORNEYS July 31, 1956 5 PLACKE ET AL 2,756,935

FENCE DIFFERENTIAL MECHANISM Filed March 10, 1955 2 SheetS-Shet 2 INVENTORS EVERETT H. PLACKE ET JAMES .HAGEM YER BY Zwa THEIR ATTORNEYS United States Patent PEN CE DIFFERENTIAL MECHANISM Everett H. Placke and James L. Hagemey'er, Dayton,

Ohio, assignors to The National 'Cash Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Application March 10, 1955, Serial No. 493,510 6 Claims. (Cl. 235-445) This invention relates to means for converting a decimal system differential mechanism into a system for entering Pence in the Sterling system, in cash registers and accounting machines.

The principal object of the invention is to modify the construction of an amount-entering differential mechanism in such a manner that the differential is controlled by two banks of keys arranged side by side.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a shiftable member engageable by a differential means located adjacent one row of keys, which means is arrested by a key of a second row when the member is shifted into engagement with the key of the second row upon move ment of the differential means.

A specific object of the invention is to convert a conventional decimal system entering means into a Sterling system entering means.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, a preferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

Of the drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan view illustrating the Pence and Shilling differential slides and the means for controlling them.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the Pence and Shilling key banks.

Fig. 3 is a detail view, shown' in perspective, of the means for controlling the differential slide for entering ten Pence into the totalizer.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the Pence differential mechanism.

General description The invention comprises a simple means for converting the decimal system entering means shown in United States Patent No. 2,616,623, issued to Mayo A. Goodbar et al. on November 4, 1952, into 21 Sterling system entering means, and particularly for entering Pence and Shillings. While the mechanism of the Goodbar et al. patent has been selected to illustrate the invention, it will be obvious that the invention can be adapted to other machines, such as that shown in the United States patent to Edward J. Carey et al., No. 2,443,652, issued on June 22, 1948.

In carrying out the invention for enteringPence, the keys are arranged in two rows, one of which is provided with nine keys, located in the row in the conventional decimal system locations, the and 11 keys being located in a separate row adjacent the 8 and 9 keys. The differential actuator is located below the 1 to 9 keys and is differentially movable in twelve steps. The stops on the differential slide are so located in respect to the 1 to 9 keys that 1 to 9 is entered into the twelve-space totalizer wheel under control thereof. To enter 10" into the totalizer when the 10 key is depressed, a movable stop is located under the keyboard,

which stop is engaged and moved by the 7 stop of the ditferential slide, until a projection thereon, located adjacent the 10 key, engages the 10 key to arrest the differential slide in its 10 position.

To enter ll Pence into the totalizer, a fixed stop is provided to arrest theditrerential actuator after it has moved eleven steps.

To enter tens of Shillings, a fixed stop in the Shilling bank arrests the differential actuator of this bank after it has moved one step.

" Detailed description As described in detail in the Goodbar et al. patent, nine amount keys 15 (Figs. 1, 2, and 4), illustrated herein-as Pence keys 1 to 9, are slidably mounted in a keyboard frame comprising a top plate 16, a bottom plate 17', a front plate 18, and a back plate 19. Springs 20 normally maintain the keys in undepressed position.

A 10 Pence key 21 and an 11 Pence key 22 are likewise mounted in the keyboard frame, in a row adjacent the key 15, in the 8 and "9 positions, respectively.

A dent 23 is slidably mounted in the keyboard frame and is formed at the upper end with a U-shaped extension 24 for coaction with the keys 21 and 22. The detent 23 is provided with slots 25, through which the keys 15, 21, and 22 project. The detent 23 is urged by a spring 26 to normally maintain one end of each slot 25 in engagement with a cam edge 27, formed on each key 15, 21, and 22. When a key is depressed, the cam edge 27 cams the detent against the action of the spring 26 until a shoulder 28 thereon passes beneath the detent, whereupon the spring 26 moves the detent over the shoulder 28 to lock the depressed key in position. At the end of the machine operation, the usual key release mechanism moves the detent 23 to release the depressed key.

The stems of the keys are arranged in staggered rows, as shown in Fig. l, to move into the path of nine flanges 30, alternately formed on each side of a differential actuator 31, slidable on cross bars 32 and 33. The flange 30 of the Pence keys 1 to 9 are located in respect to the key stems in such a way that they are arrested by contact with the keys when moved a number of steps commensurate with the value of the depressed keys, and, when arrested by the "9 key, the ditferential is moved far enough to enter nine Pence in the totalizer wheel 34, which wheel is a twelve-space wheel. Thus the nine key 15 controls the differential actuator to rotate the totalizer wheels nine steps.

The entry of the nine steps in the totalizer element 34 is effected by a rack 35, with which the totalizer element 34 is engaged in the well-known manner. The rack 35 is carried by a disk 36, rotatable on a shaft 37. A segment 38 is secured to the disk 36 and meshes with teeth 39, formed on the under side of the differential 31.

A spring 40 normally maintains a shoulder 4.1 in contact with a rod 42, carried by a plurality of arms 43, secured on a rock shaft 44. A plurality of cam follower arms 45 are also secured to the rock shaft 44. The cam follower arms 45 are provided with rollers 46 and 47 engaging cams 4S and 49, respectively, secured to a main shaft 50.

During the operation of the machine, the earns 48 and 49, through the cam follower arms 45 and the arm 43, move the rod 42 to release the differential actuator 31 to the action of its spring 40 until a flange 30 engages a stern of a depressed key. This movement of the differential actuator, through the segments 38, adjusts the rack 35 a distance commensurate with the value of the depressed key '15. Thereafter, the totalizer element 34 is rocked'into engagement with the actuator 35, and the rod 42 restores the differential actuator to home position.

to enter the amount into the totalizer element 34. Thereafter, the totalizer element 34 is disengaged from the actuator 35, and an aliner 51, pivoted on a shaft 152, engages and holds the totalizer element in its new position. A reading dial 52 is secured to the totalizer element 34 and is visible through a Window 53 in the cabinet 54.

A zero stop pawl, like that shown in the above-mentioned Goodbar et al. patent, is provided to arrest the differential actuator 31 in zero position.

The differential actuator 31 is arrested in the position by a movable arm 60 (Figs. 1, 3, and 4) pivoted on a stud 61 mounted on the under side of the keyboard bottom plate 17. The arm 60 is provided with a surface 62 in the path of movement of the key 21, and, when the latter is depressed, the key stem is moved into the path of movement of the surface 62 to prevent movement of the arm 60. The arm 60 is also provided with a flange 63, in the path of movement of the flange 30, which engages the 7 Pence key when the latter is depressed. A shouldered stud 64, located in a slot 65 of the arm 60, guides the arm 60 in its to-and-fro movements.

When the 10" key 21 is depressed and the differential slide 31 is released for operation, the flange 30 for the 7 key engages the flange 63 after moving ten steps. Since the depressed 10 key 21 is in the path of move ment of the surface 62, the differential slide is arrested in the 10" position. The adjustment of the parts under this setting is illustrated in Fig. 3.

When the key 21 is not depressed, and the differential slide moves past the 7 position, the flange 30 engages the flange 63 and moves the arm 60 idly.

When the differential slide 31 is restored to home position, the flange 30 for the 9 key engages a stud 66 on the arm 60 and restores the arm 60 to its normal position.

The arm 60 is illustrated herein as a pivoted arm, but it is not intended to limit the invention to a pivoted arm, since the results can be obtained by the use of any form of movable members such as, for example, a slide.

The differential actuator 31 is provided with a surface 67, which engages the cross bar 32 when the machine is operated with the 11 Pence key 22 depressed. In this case, the key 22 has no direct control over stopping the differential actuator 31 other than controlling the zero stop pawl (not shown).

The differential actuator 31 for the tens of Shillings is never moved more than one step. Nine tens of Shillings keys 70 are provided to speed the indexing on the keyboard. Depression of any one of the keys 70 releases the differential actuator 31 in this bank, but the differential actuator 31 is never moved more than one step. To obtain this result, a square stud 71 (Fig. 1) is mounted on the under side of the bottom plate 17, which is spaced one step from a flange 30 of the differential actuator 31 for the tens of Shillings bank. Therefore, upon release of the actuator 31 by the depression of any one of the keys 70, the actuator moves one step, where the flange 30 contacts the square stud 71.

The differential mechanism controlled by the units of Shilling keys 72 is like that fully described in the abovementioned Goodbar et al. patent.

The amounts added into the totalizers can be set up on type wheels, so that a printed record can be made. To this end, a control slide 80, slidable on the cross bars 32 and 33, is provided adjacent each differential actuator 31. The differential actuator 31 is provided with teeth 81 on its under side, which teeth are engaged by a coupling member 82, pivoted on the control slide 80. Just before the rod.42 is moved, the coupling member 82 is rocked to disengage the teeth thereon from engagement with the teeth 81 to permit the differential actuator 31 to be set under control of the keys or the zero stop pawl. The rocking movement of the coupling member 82 is obtained by a cam arm 83, pivoted on a shaft 84.

A rod 85 is moved into a cam slot 86 to lower a finger 87 into engagement with a stud 88 on the coupling member 82 to rock the coupling member downwardly. As the rod 42 continues to move, it engages a shoulder 89 on the control slide to restore the slide to a normal position. After the differential actuator 31 has been set under control of a key or zero stop pawl, the coupling member 82 is again moved into engagement with the teeth 81 to couple the control slide 80 to the differential actuator 31. Thereafter, when the rod 42 engages the shoulder 41 to restore the differential actuator to its home position, the control slide 80 is moved a like extent. The

control slide 80 is provided with teeth 90 in mesh with a pinion 91 on a shaft 92. The pinion 91 is geared to type carriers, in the manner fully set forth in the abovementioned Goodbar et al. patent.

The rod is supported on a plurality of arms 93, sesecured to a rock shaft 94, which is given a rocking movement during each machine operation, as fully described in the above-mentioned Goodbar et al. patent.

While the form of mechanism shown and described herein is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form or embodiment disclosed herein, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various other forms.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a totalizer element, a differential actuator for entering amounts into the totalizer element, two rows of depressible keys, a plurality of means on the differential actuators for directly engaging the depressed keys of one row, a movable member, a projection on the movable member located in the path of movement of one of said means, and a surface on said movable member located in the path of movement of one key in the other row, whereby the movable member and the differential actuator are arrested by the said one key when the differential actuator is moved during an operation in which the said one key is depressed.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a totalizer element, a differential actuator for entering amounts in the totalizer element, two rows of manipulative devices, a plurality of projections on said differential actuator for directly engaging the manipulative devices of one row to differentially control the extent of movement of the differential actuator, and a movable member located in the path of movement of one of said projections, said movable member engageable with one manipulative device of the other row when the said one manipulative device ,is in manipulated position, whereby the differential actuator is arrested by the movable member.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a totalizer element, a differential actuator for entering amounts in the totalizer element, two rows of manipulative devices, a plurality of projections on said differential actuator for directly engaging the manipulative devices of one row to differentially control the extent of movement of the differential actuator, a movable member located in the path of movement of one of said projections, said movable member engageable with one manipulative device of the other row when the said one manipulative device is in manipulated position, whereby the differential actuator is arrested by the movable member, said movable member being free to move when said one manipulative device is in non-manipulated position to free the differential actuator for movement past the position in which the differential actuator is arrested by the movable member and the said one manipulative device, and means on the differential actuator to restore the movable member when the differentialactuator is restored to its original position.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a totalizer element capable of receiving entries of values from I to 11, a differential actuator movable eleven steps for making said entries, a first row of keys for controlling the steps of movement of the actuator for making entries from 1 to 9 digits, a second row of keys for controlling the steps of movement of said actuator for making entries of and 11 digits, said 10 and 11 entry controlling keys located adjacent the 8 and 9 keys of the first rows of keys respectively, a plurality of projections on the differential actuator arranged to engage the depressed keys of the first row to control the differential actuator to enter digits of 1 to 9, a movable member located adjacent the 7 key of the first row and adapted to be engaged by the projection engageable with the 7 key when depressed, said last-named projection engaging the movable member after the differential actuator has moved ten steps when the 7 key is not depressed, and means on the movable member engaging the 10 key when the 10 key is depressed to arrest movement of the movable means after the differential actuator has moved ten steps.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a totalizer element capable of receiving entries of values from 1 to 11, a differential actuator movable eleven steps for making said entries, a first row of keys for controlling the steps of movement of the actuator for making entries from 1 to 9 digits, a second row of keys for controlling the steps of movement of said actuar for making entries of 10 and 11 digits, said 10 and 11 entry controlling keys located adjacent the 8 and 9 keys of the first row of keys respectively, a plurality of projections on the differential actuator arranged to engage the depressed keys of the first row to control the differential actuator to enter digits of 1 to 9, a movable member located adjacent the 7 key of the first row and adapted to be engaged by the projection engageable with the 7 key when depressed, said last-named projection engaging the movable member after the differential actuator has moved ten steps when the 7 key is not depressed, means on the movable member engaging the 10 key when the 10 key is depressed to arrest movement of the movable means after the differential actuator has moved ten steps, and a fixed stop to arrest the differential actuator after moving eleven steps in an operation in which the 11 key is depressed.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a totalizer element capable of receiving entries of values from 1 to 11, a differential actuator movable eleven steps for making said entries, a first row of keys for controlling the steps of movement of the actuator for making entries from 1 to 9 digits, a second row of keys for controlling the steps of movement of said actuator for making entries of 10 and 11 digits, said 10 and 11 entry controlling keys located adjacent the 8 and 9 keys of the first row of keys respectively, a plurality of projections on the differential actuator arranged to engage the depressed keys of the first row to control the differential actuator to enter digits of 1 to 9, a movable member located adjacent the 7 key of the first row and adapted to be engaged by the projection engageable with the 7 key When depressed, said last-named projection engaging the movable member after the differential actuator has moved ten steps when the 7 key is not depressed, means on the movable member engaging the 10 key when the 10 key is depressed to arrest movement of the movable means after the differential actuator has moved ten steps, a fixed stop to arrest the differential actuator after moving eleven steps in an operation in which the 11 key is depressed, and means on the differential actuator to restore the movable member after an entry of 8, 9, or 11 digits has been made.

No references cited. 

